Female jogger attacked in Carlow

A JOGGER who was running alone last Wednesday in Carlow town bravely fought off an attacker after he struck her several times around the head and face.

The 28-year-old woman, who lives in Carlow town, was running along the River Burrin near the Éire Óg GAA Club at about 6.30am on Wednesday in the direction of Ballinacarrig when she spotted a man on what’s known locally as ‘The broken bridge’.

He first greeted her but then blocked her way over the bridge. As she tried to jog past the man, he grabbed her by the arm and struck her several times around the head and face.

“There was a struggle but she got the better of him and got away. She then ran back towards the town and made it home safely,” a garda spokesperson told The Nationalist.

The woman was deeply shocked and after alerting her partner the gardaí were phoned. They interviewed the brave woman and preserved the scene for a technical examination. The woman was brought to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, where she was treated for her injuries.

Gardaí in Carlow are now appealing for any sighting of the perpetrator, who ran towards the Wexford Road, away from the town. They’re hoping that someone driving to work may have spotted the man, who was wearing a grey hoodie and who was 5’10” in height. It’s also known that he has sallow skin and spoke in broken English.

“We’re hoping that someone going to work that morning might have spotted him near the main Wexford Road. The area where the incident happened was very dark and very remote. We’re looking for another sighting of him after he left the scene,” the garda spokesperson said.

The motivation for the attack is, as yet, unknown, and the investigation is on going.

If you have any information that could assist the gardaí, call them on 059 9136620.